The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-09-21
CHINESE FOOT-GEAR.
A Country Where a Mans Station in Lif
Is Indicated by His Shoes.

Is Indicated by His Shoes.
Chinese shoes are apt to appear to
us all very much alike, and, looking at
ancient pictures, they seem as if they
had been the same as far back as we
can 90. An intelligent Monaghan in
this city, however, assures the writer
that this is not so, and that great
changes of fashion have occurred in
later years. while the shoes of different
classes of people differ both as to shape
and material. No doubt it is weak.
ness of ours, which causes US to think
every Chinaman's shoes to be indis.
tinguishable from his neighbours, just
as we fancy all their faces to be very
much alike. In China, notwithstand.
ing, it appears that the shoe. as well
as the other portions of costume, is
significant of ones station In
life. Thus the working-man wears
a particular shape and color,
the learned man another, and the
Mandarin another. You look at a
mans shoes and you can tell his rank.
The Mandarin affects boots greatly,
and there is curious custom in con-
nection with them. When he gives up
office as governor of district or
province the heads of the various de-
partments wait upon him and request
his boots, which are placed in the tenn
pie. They at the same time make him
a sent of considerable sums OF
money.
The ordinary shoe has sole of felt
with an upper of cotton. A single
piece of leather is sewed on under the
felt which is about an inch thick. The
sides of the sole are painted white.
Great numbers of these are imported
into this country and sell at $3.50;
they may be bought in China for about
ninety cents. A Chicago gentleman,
who was for years resident in China.
informs the writer that he found these
extremely comfortable for moving
about his house and garden.
The upper classes go in for embroid.
cry on their shoes and slippers on an
extensive and artistic scale, but I could
not learn of any article which would
cost more than four dollars. The
effect of the embroidery is mostly very
pleasing. 1t is always what may bt
[ called surface decoration. The genera
guiding forms are first considered, ant
these are decorated. The flowers AT
not natural flowers. We do not see
as in our work, highly wrought imi
tation of natural flower with its ligh
, and shade struggling to stand out from
the surface on which it is placed, but
conventional representation sufficient
ly near to suggest an image to tn
4 mind. Mems dress boots or shoes ar
t of velvet or satin with the universe
white soles.
f Chinese ladies, like those of othe
: lands, pride themselves on the small
l ness of their feet, but in no othe
e part of the world is so unnatural
method employed to secure the desire
end. All the Chinese, who can affor
# it, cause the uniformed bone OF tn
female infant to be broken, and In
Il toes to be bent beneath the palm {
e the foot In this way the foot is bant
aged and not allowed to grow. In
# result is miraculously small foot
It large unwieldy ankle and no cal
}, The pain of the alteration in til
g direction of the bone frequently XII
1 the sufferer. Yet mothers take a prid
it in submitting their children to tn
@ dreadful ordeal. When these grow U
i they have Iimping gait and thel
1t are frequent falls, often resulting
n serious injury and broken bones. Th
If barbarous custom is practiced not on
IS among fine ladies, who can ride
1t sedan chairs, but among the poor'
N classes, who have to toll all day in I'll
Is fields. and Leather ReUiew.
i a.